3 Everyday Mistakes That Damage Your Hair

It is weird to think that in an age where you can download a fitness routine onto your smartphone and use it as a guideline for your meals and your workouts, there are still so much we get wrong about a different kind of routine: Your hair. Indeed, just like your body shape and your fitness level can reveal a lot about your health, so can your hair. Stress, for instance, can affect the appearance of your mane: Chronic stress can lead to premature discoloration or even hair loss. A diet that is rich in processed foods and fat can lead to greasy and brittle hair. A deficiency in vitamin D – which you can get from fatty fish, cheese, egg yolks and beef liver – can affect the health of your hair follicle and lead to reduced growth and even bald patches. In short, you can’t ignore how your lifestyle choices impact your mane. But it’s not only about the right diet. You also need to be aware of the daily hazards in your home and at the workplace.

You use hard water

More than 85% of the water used by American consumers can be classified as hard water. So, it would be foolish to assume that of your water quality without a preliminary audit. Hard water contains minerals, which create the limescale stains in your shower and the sink. But without the appropriate water filters, hard water can do a lot more than drawing white lines on your shower wall. It damages the scales of your hair, which makes your hair feel rough and tangly. Shampoos and soaps are also less effective in this environment, as they react with the excess minerals to form calcium and magnesium salt. These salts dry your hair and scalp, creating favorable conditions for dandruff. In short, if you’re struggling with hair knots and dryness, you might want to test your water before trying a new shampoo.

You don’t protect your hair

The air quality, indoor and outdoor, can dramatically affect the texture and health of your mane. Indeed, when the air is filled with harmful particulate matters, such as dust, smoke, grime, gaseous pollutants, the accumulation of these elements can cause irritation and damage your hair and scalp over time. An itchy scalp, for instance, can be a natural reaction to the presence of pollutants. That’s why you need to focus on anti-pollution hair care as a priority. Indeed, using products that don’t deal with the primary cause can weaken your hair.

You use an old hairbrush

You’ve got an old, trusty hairbrush and you haven’t changed it since high school. It’s been there for you all those years, and you know you can rely on it like a close friend. Or can you? Old hairbrushes can accumulate hair and dust on its base, which can encourage greasy hair. In fact, the more you brush your hair, the greasiest it’ll be, especially if you don’t know how to clean your hairbrush. Aside from daily maintenance, you should shampoo your brush at least once a month to remove the dirt, oil and built-up hair products.

While styling products and masks can protect and nourish your hair, they can’t repair the damages everyday life inflicts. You need to be aware of the dangers in the bathrooms and outside your home to make sure you can ensure maximal protection.

Samantha

Samantha hails from Virginia and is a proud wife to a retired Deputy Sheriff and mother to two amazing little boys named Jack & William. A veteran product reviewer; Samantha has been reviewing products for 8 years and offers high quality product reviews with original photography.